District



(No Model.) a sheets-sheet 1.

J. C. FOWLER 82; E. A. HENKLE.

' FOLDING MACHINE.

No.'408,095. Patented July 30, 1889.

(No Model.) ssheets-sheet 2 J, C FOWLER & E. A. HENKLE. FOLDING MACHINE Patented July 30, 1889.

71 mfr (No Model.) a sheets-fsheen s.,

J. C. FOWLER & E. A. HENKLE.

' FOLDING MACHINE.

No. 408,095. Patented Julyv 30, 1889.

(No Model.) s sheets-sneet 4.

J. C. FOWLER 8a E. A. HENKLE.

' FOLDING MACHINE.

N. FEYERS, Fhom-Limogmpher, wahiugtvm, D. C.

5. 9. r ...u OO h 1 s Q 0 .vnu 3 M. w. s

.A l .Y w., BA wm Rm H m m mm O FWN. C

(No Model.)

' (No Model.)

l I v'Sheets-Sheet 6, J. C. FOWLER 8v E. A. HENKLE. FOLDING MACHINE. No. 408.095.

Patented July 30, 1889. rf. D J

s Q l '-12 @s 4 ag w keg a df w l l i QQ: s 3S 1/ VZW (No Model.) s sheets-sheet 7. J. C. FOWLER 8v E. A. HENKLE.

POLDINGMAGHINE.

No. 408,095. Patented July 30, 1889.

N4 PETERS, Phulu-Limogmpher, wnhxngmn. DV t;

(No Model.) s sheets-sheen s.

J. C. FOWLER & E. A. HENKLB.

' FOLDING MACHINE.

No. 408,095. Patented July 30, 1889.

776;. fr y Y, Y" j' f1 NV PETERS, PhofnfLihugrfpher. Washlllglon. D.C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH C. EOl/VLER AND EDlVARD A. IIENKLE, OE W'ASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNORS TO THE AMERICAN PRINTING PRESS COM- PANY, OE SAME PLACE.

FOLDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,095, dated July 30, 1889.

Y Application fled August 3, 1888. Serial No. 281,849. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOSEPH C EOWLER and EDWARD A. HENKLE, citizensof the United States, residing at lVashin gton, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our present invention relates to mechanism for continuous web-printin g, one type of which is shown in the Letters Patent granted to us upon the 15th day of November, 1887, Nos. 373,353 and 373,354, with which we may use our web turning and reversing device contained in the patent granted to us the 29th day of May, 1888, No. 383,568.

It is the purpose of our invention to provide novel mechanism having automatic operation and capable of operating in combination with any press adapted for continuous web-printing, whereby the web printed upon both sides shall be received as it comes from the press, folded centrallyand longitudinally, perforated at suitable intervals, and separated into, sheets of four pages, said sheets being centrally folded while still in the web, and whereby said separated sheets, each having` its fold formed separately, shall be inserted successively within the proper enfolding or inelosing sheet until a complete signature is formed, whereupon said signature is removed from its support, the sheets of which it is composed accurately placed and the edges trued with relation to each other, and the signature laid flat upon a traveling belt and partly overlying the preceding-signature, but distinctly separated therefrom, the folded edges being' laid in the same direction.

It is also our purpose to provide for the production of signatures of any required nu 1nber of sheets, followed by alternate signatures of a less number, and to provide for those cases wherein the completed bookl is composed of one, two, or more full signatures, followed by one, two, or more sheets less than the number composing a full signature.

It is our purpose to render the automatic mechanism referred to capable of operation in connection with any printing mechanism of the type mentioned, and to so frganize the same that it shall have rapid and accu rate ac- 5o tion, folding each sheet in the web, and thereby avoiding the necessity of employing a book rolling or folding machine or other apparatus for similar purposes, perforatin g and separating the sheets successively and with precision, andinserting the separated folded sheet-s successively without manual intervention of any kind, and finally delivering the signature automatically upon a belt-carrier.

The invention consists to these ends in the 6o several novel features of construction and new combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, and then specifically pointed out in the claims. p

In the accompanyingdrawings, Eigure l is a diagrammatic perspective showing the course of the continuous web as it passes from the supply-roll to the press, and illustrating the several operations performed thereon up to and including the iinal step. Fig. 2 is a 7o vertical transverse section taken at the point where insertion begins. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of one of the sheets after passing through the machine, showing the character of the fold imparted. Fig. et, taken in conjunction with Fig. Ll, is a diagram of the essential parts of the entire machine, with the exception of the actuating mechanism, the parts shown being the folder, the spine, the creasing-rolls, perforators, feed and separat- 8o ing rolls, the int-ermitting rolls, the cone-adjusters, the intermitting rolls and their engaging devices, the stile or gate, the deiiector, strikers, and carrier -belt. Figs. `5 and 5ft, taken together, show a side elevation of the ent-ire mechanism, including part of the printing apparatus with web-reverser attached, already patented to us, and showing the mechanism by which automatic operation is given to the several parts, the bed-plate 9o and supports being partly in section. Fig.

G is a4 plan view of that portion of the machine in front of the web-folder, showing the parts and the devices operating the same. Fig. 7 is adetail plan view showing the shafts 95 and gearing whereby movement is imparted from a gear of the press to gearing below the bed-plate. Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the forward end of the machine. Fig. 9 is a diagram of one of the press-gears in connection with the cam-arm operating the sleeve,where by movement is given to the beltcarrier. Fig. 10 is a similar view of the same gear with its separate cam and the cam-arm operating the sleeved shaft by which the deliveryrolls are intermittently brought into action. Fig. 11 is a vertical cross-section in the axial plane of the separating-rolls, one of the latter being shown in vertical section. Fig. 12 is a detail edge elevation of the folding and drawing rolls and their support. Fig. 13 is a detail end elevation of the web-folder, taken from the point at which the spine is attached. Fig. 14 is a diagram view of the face of the power-gear and stile or gate, showing the relative number and arrangement of the cams and stile-openings for the formation of a full signature. Fig. 15 is a similar view showing the arrangement of parts required for the formation of a signature of seven folded sheets supplemented by a single folded sheet. Fig. 16 is a similar View showing the arrangement of cams and st-ile-openings necessary for the formation of a full signature of six folded pages, followed by a part signature of two folded and insert ed pages. Fig. 17 is a similar View showing the arrangement of cams and stile-openings adapted for the formation of two signatures, each composed of four folded sheets.

In the description of this invention the order of operation of the several parts will be followed as closely as is consistent with the purposes of the specification.

In the said drawings, the referen ce-numeral 1 designates any suitable web-printing mechanism, that shown and preferred being the perfecting-press patented to us jointly upon the 15th day of November, 1887, No. 373,353,

as already herein specified, although any other Web-printing press may be substituted therefor, if desired.

After passing from the supply or pay-off roll 2, Fig. l, the web is carried beneath the impression-cylinder 3, Fig. 5, and printed upon one side. It is then carried over the web-reverser 4, Fig. 5, and thence back over the other end of the impression-cylinder 3 and beneath the latter, where it is printed upon the reverse side or perfected. From this point the web is carried forward in the normal direction of movement until it lies over and upon the web-folder, consisting of a tabular support flat, or nearly so, at the end where the web first engages, but having its surface so formed that it passes by suitable graduations to a convex, and thence to an angular shape, the angle being formed in the longitudinal center of the folder. The web, being drawn under proper tension over this surface, as it comes from the press readily assumes the form imparted to it and passes smoothly from the flat or convex surface to the angular part, by which a central longitudinal bend approximating a fold is easily produced. At

this point the central portion of the web is seized by a pair of creasing or folding rolls having such width that they act only upon the imprinted margins adjacent to the fold. These rolls not only advance or feed the web, but they form a smooth and perfect crease or sharp fold,following the central longitudinal line of the bend' produced by the web-folder.

Beyond the creasing-rolls are arranged the perforators, so constructed that they form a series of iine perforations across the folded web separated by such narrow intervals that the rupture of the web at these points requires but little force. A pair of feed-rolls in advance of the perforators carry the web to the separatingrolls, which seize itfby its imprinted margins, and, having a surface speed somewhat in excess of that imparted to the holding-surfaces of the perforators, graduallyy and gently rupture the web along the line of perforations.

The perforators are so formed as to produce the successive lines of perforations at points between the successive sheets, whereby each separated and folded sheet will consist, primarily at least, of four pages, the single sheet being folded once in its longitudinal center. These sheets are now fed to the inserter, where they are slightly opened and dropped successively upon another until the full number of sheets required to form a complete signature have been assembled, the pages being arranged in proper numerical order, and the separately-creased folds placed each one within the inclosing-sheet land turned to forma perfect register. The folded sheets are held upon the inserter until the required number is assembled, when, by the opening of a gate or stile and the engagement of the advancing rolls, the signature is shot from the inserter against a knockerplate, by which the perforated ends are further rectiiied, while at the same time the folded edge is slightly deflected over, and the signature isdelivered to the carrier-belt.

Referring now to Figs. 4, 4, and 5 of the drawings, the numeral 5 designates the webfolder, which may consist of a sheet of metal bent or drawn into the required form and having a polished surface, upon which the web moves with little friction. This folder, as already stated, is fiat, or nearly so, at the end where it receives the web, and thence passes gradually to an angular portion 6 lying in the center of the folder and having an edge. (Shown in Fig. '2.) At this point the two wings of the folder form a very small angle and pass through an opening 7 in an upright frame 8, which is mounted on the bed-plate. The opening 7 in the frame S has angularity corresponding with that of the folder, and space is left between the parts for the free passage of the web.

The web former or folder 5 is mounted on 'the bed-plate by means of slotted arm-supports 9, which straddle threaded posts 10, tapped into the bed-plate. Upon these posts IOO IIO

IZO

are turned nuts. 12, having milled edges, by which a vertical adjustment can be given to the whole or to a part of the web-folding plate. It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 5 that while the lower edges of the wings of the folder are parallel, or nearly so, the convex and angular back thereof rises gradually in about the line in which the web comes off the impression-cylinder until the upright frame S is reached. The purpose of this arrangement will be stated hereinafter.

Upon the front of the frame S is mounted an upright S, Fig. 13, upon which is fastened a bracket 13, having a slot, through which is inserted the extremity of the spine 14, fastened in the bracket by a cross-pin inserted behind the outwardly-bent end of said bracket. This spine, which is substantially continuous from this point throughout the mechanism, consists of `a thin flat plate, preferably of metal, set upon its edge and varying in width at different points, for reasons presently to be shown. The general form is shown in Fig, 1. Above the end of the spine,which is connected to the upright somewhat below the angular back of the former or folder 5, are mounted spring-compressors of foldingplates 15, one upon each side of the opening 7, through which the web passes and at such a point that the central longitudinal bend formed in the web passes between said plates, whereby a fold is partly formed therein, the compression not being sufficient to perfectly crease the web for fear of tearing. rlhe function of these compressors therefore isto so define the bend or approximate fold produced by the web-folder 5 that the subsequent action -of the creasing-rolls shall not by reason of any slight imperfection in the web give a lateral inclination to the perfected fold or crease, and' thereby carry the same to one side or the other of the true central line. Over the anterior end of the spine, which is that end connected to the upright frame 8, are arranged thc drawing and creasing rolls 1 6, formed of metal or other suitable material, and of such width, as shown in Fig. 5, as to engage with those marginal portions of the web lying upon each side of the central line of fold. The manner of supporting and driving these rolls will be shown hereinafter, it being sufficient for the present purpose to state that but one only is driven positively,

' the other being revolved by contact, the surface speed being a little greater than the speed of the web, whereby said rolls may slip upon the paper and preserve an equal tension of the web at all times. This latter roll is mounted in a laterally-movable journal-box 17, thrown by a spring 1S toward the driven roll, this construction allowing the ready insertion and removal of the web at all times. The spring-pressure is sufficient to form a sharp and perfect crease or fold in the web, which latter, being of a single thickness, is entirely feasible with springs of limited or moderate tension.

A little beyond the `drawing-rolls 16 are placed the perforators, one of which consists of a vertical cylinder 19, the central part of which is cut away to leave collars 2O at the ends, these collars being normally out of surface contact with the opposite cylinder at all points of a complete revolution, except as hereinafter specified. Upon a `vertical section of said cylinder 19 is formed a true cylinder-surfacc 21 of increased diameter and covering a surface measured by about fortyfive degrees of arc. Near one vertical edge of this surface is inlaid the rubber orI metallic perforating-cushion 22, so arranged as to register with the punches or perforators 23, carried by the opposite cylinder. The said cushion is placed adjacent to that edge of the raised surface which first engages the web, whereby it will be seen that the folded web at the moment of its perforation is gripped by the perforating-cylinders from its lower to its upper edges, and this hold is continued after the perforation is effected and until the web has advanced a distance equal to that measured upon the raised surface 2l, the only interruption of which is a narrow channel 2l, to permit the passage of the spine 14. As the folded web passes from the drawing-rolls 1G and is carried between the perforators, it comes upon the edge of the spine 14 at a point a little beyond the latter, which is slightly raised to guide the folded and creased edge to a pair of rubber feedrolls 25, which engage with the folded edge of the web only, Fig. 5, and carry it forward upon the spine, which is at the point 26 cut away to permit the surface contact of these rolls. Between the perforators and the rubber feed-rolls the folded wings of the sheet pass inside the closing-brackets 27, arranged on each side of the spine, which at this point is rapidly increased to its full width. These brackets draw the folded wings of the web toward the spine, with which said brackets form an angle of convergence, as shown in Fig. G, and thereby present the folded web in accurate position to the separators 2S.

The separators consist,liketl1eperforators,

of two rolls, one upon each side of the spine.

One of these rolls may be a cylinder having a section 2t) of slightly-increased diameter, while the other roll has its central portion of diminished diameter, leaving collars 30,which make surface contact with the section 29 of the opposite roll, this section being extended over about one hundred and thirty-five degrees of arc, these separating-rolls, as will be seen from Fig. et, having a slightly greater surface speed, all other things being equal, and they are so arranged with reference to said perforators that they will seize the folded and perforated web at or about the instant after the bunches have acted thereon to form. the line of perforations, and by reason of their slightly greater surface speed they will effect the separation of the web along` the line of perforations so gradually and gently as to TOO IIO

obviate all danger of tearing the paper, this separation being effected while the raised section 21 of the perforator19 is still holding the web against the opposite cylinder.

Beyond the separators 28 are placed the acceleratinglfeed-rolls 31, Figs. 4a and 5, of such width as to grasp the folded and separated sheet by the folded. edge only. These rolls are of rubber, of increased diameter relatively to the separators, and have a greater surface speed. Upon each roll a surface portion is removed by cutting upon the chord of an arcof about forty-five degrees, and theV flattened faces 32 thus formed are arranged to register with each other, opening, as shown in Fig. 4, to permit the forward end of the sheet to enter between the rolls and pass beyond their axes before the cylindrical surfaces come together and grasp the sheet between them, whereby the separated sheet is wholly released by the separators at or about the moment it is engaged by the feed-rolls 31. After being released by the separators, the folded separated sheet lies upon the spine until it is seized by the feed-rolls 31, by which it is advanced to the inserter. The inserting-section 33 of the spine is arranged beneath the general level of the preceding portion, in order that the sheets may successively descend thereon to effect a perfect insertion and enable them to be assembled and the ends properly justified. At the moment the feed-rolls 31 seize the sheet it is carried forward with considerable speed and straddled upon the inserting section 33, which lies snugly up within the interior fold. The forward end of the sheet projects beyond the end of the section 33 of the spine, being' thrown by the impulse of the feed-rolls 31 against the stile or gate 34 and between the intermittent delivery-rolls 35 and 36. As the sheet drops upon the spine-section 33, it is acted upon by cone-adjusters 37, one upon each side of the spine and revolving over toward the latter. By these cones the wings of the sheet are drawn in toward the spine, beginning at their forward ends, the air inclosed by the sheet having unobstructed exit below. At or near the rearward ends or apices of these cones and carried by the same shafts are curved elastic arms or 1in gers 33, which at each revolution come in contact with the wings of the sheet and press them closely against the flat faces of the spine, at the same time exerting a slight downward draft upon the sheet. Upon a shaft 39, directly above the spine-section 33, is mounted a curved elastic finger 40, having revolution in the same vertical plane with the spine-section 33. This finger strikes the folded edge of the sheet and drives it down closely upon the edge of the spine-section, and by reason of theperfect elasticity and curved form of said finger it rides a limited distance upon said edge, and thereby secures uniform contact with the spring at all points along the folded edge of the sheet.

At the end of the elevated portion of the spine which precedes the inserting-section 33 are formed or mounted spreaders 41, one upon each side. These spreaders may be formed by splitting the metal of the spine and curving the ends outward, or by mounting separate pieces thereon. In either case they consist of strips which diverge somewhat from the straight line ofthe spine, the angle of divergence increasing very gradually downward. These spreaders serve to open the sheet slightly as it is shot upon the inserting section, in order to insure its passing over the ends of the preceding sheets and to prevent unnecessary frictional contact therewith as it is thrown against the stile 34.

The folded sheets are brought successively upon the inserter-section and between the feed-rolls 35 and 3G in the manner described, each sheet being in turn acted upon by the lingers 3S and 40 and the cone-adjusters 37. As cach sheet is advanced, the impulse of the rolls 31 is sufficient to bring its forward end against the stile 34, whereby a tolerably perfect alignment of these ends is effected. lVhen the proper number of sheets have been inserted, the stile is turned in such manner as to bring an opening 42 in its edge opposit-e the end of the signature lying upon the inserter section 33, and at this moment the feedroll 30', which is movable, and which is normally withdrawn from the feed-roll 35, (see Fig. 4%) is thrown by the automatic action of the mechanism toward the positively-operated roll 35, and the signature being seized between them it is shot off the inserter-section through the opening 42 and against a stop-plate 43, by contact with which the sheets are perfectly aligned at their forward ends. As it passes from the stile to the stop-plate, it meets a defiector-plate 44, by which the folded edge is inclined laterally or at right angles to the normal direction of movement of said signature, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 4, and it then falls by its own gravity upon a carrier-belt 45, its fold being turned in the direction of the travel of said belt. An intermittent motion is given said belt between each action of the rolls 35 and 3G, whereby the successive signatures are laid thereon in the manner shown in Fig. 1.

The several parts of the mechanism described are supported upon a bed-plate A,

which practically extends from the flat end of the web-former 5 to the outer edge of the carrier-belt 45. Upon that -portion of this frame adjacent to the web-former are erected two standards 40, Fig. G, supporting a frame 47, which is parallel with the bed plate. Upon a bracket-bearing 43 (see Fig. 12) on the under face of the frame 47 is mounted one of the feed-rolls 16, provided with a gear 1G, by which it is positively driven through an idler-gear 49, driven by a gear49, carried by a vertical shaft 50, which has a miter 51 at its lower end driven by a similar miter on the horizontal shaft 52, Fig. 5f. The other IOO IIO

feed and creasing roll is journaled in a sliding box 17, having movement toward and from the co-operating roll in a bracket-bearing 54, between which and the frame 4-7 the box slides, being guided by springs 55. A spring 18 normally preserves the surface contact of the two rolls and exerts the pressure required for the formation of the fold, the tension of the spring being adj ust-able by means of a screw 50, bearing upon one end thereof. To provide for the rea-dy separation of the rolls for the purpose of inserting and withdrawing the web, a lever 57 is fulcrumed upon the bracket 51 and connected to the sliding box 17 by a pin 5S, engaging with a slot in the lever.

Just beyond the feed-rolls 1G are arranged the perforators 19, the detailed construction of which is shown in Fig. 11. Each of these perforators is carried by a shaft 50, upon which the perforator-cylinder is slipped. The cylinder rests upon a collar G0, and below said cylinder is arranged a nut G1, having-radial openings G2 for the insertion of a lever by which it may be turned'. The nut 01 Arests in turn upon a washer 03,1ying upon the bedplate A. The lower journal-bearing' G-t is passed through an enlarged opening 05 in the bed-plate, and then through the washer 63 into the nut 01, a male thread on the end of the bearing'engaging the female thread of the nut. Thebearing 64 has a :flange GG, which lies against the under face of the bedplate, and a sleeve (57 surrounds the shaft and lies between it and the bearing, which is independently adjusted in the opening 05 of the bed-plate by means of a set-screw (5S, tapped through the bed and having its end bearing the flanged head G6.

At the upper end the construction is as follows: The end of the shaft 50 is threaded to engage with an internally-threaded cylindrical bearing 69, of hardened metal, which is thereby drawn down to rest upon a disk on the end of the cylinder, said disk having a peripheral flange 70, the outer surface of which is flush with the surface of the collar 20 onthe cylinder. The cylindrical bearing or journal 09 rests in the journal-box 71, which is movable in an elongated aperture 72 in the frame, being' adjusted toward the opposite perforator by a set-screw '723, which is tapped through a boss 7st on the frame and has its end resting against the journ al-box 71. A set-screw 75, tapped through the upper end of the cylindrical bearing, rests upon the threaded end of the shaft, which is turned up far enough to securely lock the bearing G9 in conjunction with the set-screw 75, the latter being held by a j ain-nut 7 0. A cap 77 on the bearing G9 overlies the top of the journal-box, and an inwardly-turned flange 7S, formed on the upper edge of the peripheral flange 70, serves to form a receptacle for oil, and prevents its escape by the centrifugal force produced by the revolution of the roll, which effectually prevents access of thc oil to the surface of t-he collars, where it might soil the web. The other perforator is of similar construction, save as to the movable bearings, and the two are geared together by gears 79 upon the lower ends of the shafts 50. Movement is communicated to the perforators from the miter 51, driven by the power-shaft 52. Upon the other side of the perforators 19 are arranged the rubber rolls 25, carried on dropbearings 81, depending from the frame 47. One of these rolls is provided with a gear S2, meshing with an il-itermediate S3, which in turn meshes with the gear 49 upon the upper end of the shaft 50, carrying the non-adjustable perforator. j

The separating-rolls 2S conform in construction and in the manner in which they are mounted to the description already given in connection with the perforators. They have bearing at their upper ends in a plate Si, supported by'standards S5, and are geared together at their lower en ds by gears S6, the nonadjustable roll being driven from the shaft 52 by means of a ruiter-gear S7, meshing with a miter 88 on the roll-shaft. A little beyond the separatingrolls and their supportingframe is erected a plate 89, mounted on standards 90, and having a yoke-frame 91 raised above the plate to receive drop-bearings 92, carrying spur-gears 9S, meshing together, and one meshing with a gear 94 on the shaft of one of the rubber advancing-rolls 31, while the other spur-gear meshes with a similar gear on the shaft of the other roll 3.1, thereby gearing the two positively together. The rolls 31 are mounted on drop-bearings 95, depending from the plate 89, and upon the shaft of one ofv said rolls 31 is a miter-gear 96, meshing with a miter 97, carried by a shaft 9S, having bearing at one end in a bracket 99, rising from the plate S9 and supported, Fig. 6, at the other end by an arm 100, resting at one end upon a shaft 101, carrying the gate or stile. Between these points an elbow-arm 102, resting at one end upon the plate 89, is

connected to the shaft 9S and supported thereby. This elbow-arm gives bearing to a cross-shaft 39,which Vcarries the striker-finger 40, andy which is driven by a-miter-gear 104, meshing wit-h a similar miter105 on the shaft 98. The shaft 9S is operated by the drivingshaft 52 through intermediate gearing consisting, as here shown, Figs. 5, G, 7, and 8, of a miter-gear 10G on the shaft 52, engaging asimilar gear 107 on the d rop-bearin g 108, the shaft of which gear 107 carries a spur-gear 109, engaging a spur-gear 110 on a vertical shaft 112, having at its upper end a miter--gear 113, meshing with a miter-gear 114C on the shaft 98. The gear 114 rests upon the gear 113, and the latter partly supports the weight of the shaft 9S and elbow frame or arm 102. Upon each side of the inserting-section 33 of the spine are erected standards or posts 115, carrying boxes in which are journaled the shafts 116, carrying the cone-adj usters. Each of these shafts has a miter-gear1-17 at the IOO IIO

rear end meshing with a similar miter 118 on a short shaft 119, having bearing in the bedplate and provided below said plate with a `gear 120, meshing with one of the gears 86, by Which the separatorrolls are connected. The spring-iin gers 38 are carried by the shafts 116, said fingers being mounted thereon at or near the apiees of the cone-adjusters.

The delivery-roll 35 is mounted on and rotated bythe shaft 112, Fig. 8; but the opposite and co-operating roll 36 is movable toward and from its fellow-roll, and for this purpose is mounted in asliding box 121,supported in a frame 122, which is mounted on a bracket 123, rising' from the bed-plate A. The sliding box is reciprocated at stated intervals to bring the roll 36 into engagement with the inserted sheets lying upon the spine-section 33, shoot the signature off said section upon the carrier-belt, and then nf'ithdraw the roll 36 by the following means:

Referring to Fig. 4, the numeral 124 denotes a rock-shaft having bearing at one end in any suitable support on the press, the bearing in the presentinstance being indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 4 and 10. This shaft extends toward tne forward end of the machine, where it receives support in the end of an arm 125, Fig. 8, mounted on the frame 122, in which the sliding box of the deliveryroll 36 is mounted. The arm 125 is further supported and stiffened by a web of metal 126, forming part of the bracket 123. Upon the rock-shaft 124 is mounted an arm 127, connected at its end to a sleeve 128, within which a bar 129 slides against the outward projection of a spring 130, said bar being pivotally connected to the sliding box 121. A cross-pin 131, driven through the sleeve and passing through a slot in the bar, limits the movement of the latter within the sleeve, the tension of t-he spring 130 being ordinarily all that is required for the delivery of the signature from the inserting-section of the spine.

The rock-shaft 124 is operated by a cam 133 on the inner face of the power-gear of the press, Figs. 4 and 10, said cam striking' friction-rolls upon the extremity of a Cain-arm 134, rigidly mounted on the shaft. This facecam has a riding surface of such length as to hold the rolls and 36 together long enough to completely deliver the signature from its position upon the spine-section 33, when the rock-shaft 124 is restored to its normal position and the rolls again separated by means of a spring 135, interposed between the eamarm and a rigid arm 136 on the shaft-bearing. Aboss 137 is formed on the ring of the eam-arm,and throughitis tapped a set-screw 138, the end of which rests against the butt of the arm 136 to limit the return-throw of the cam-arm produced by the spring 135.

The gate or stile by which the sheets are held upon the inserting-section of the spine until the signature is full or complete, and by whicha passage is opened for the same when the deliveryrolls are brought into action, consists of ametallic disk 34, having' one or more openings 42, which by the revolution of the stile may be brought opposite the end of the inserter-section This stile is carried by a shaft 161, supported at one end in a box 140, mounted on the frame 122, and at the other end in a bearing on the upright plate 43 at the cxtreme forward end of the machine. The arrangement of these parts is such that when the stile is turned into the position shown in Fig. 8 its face closes the exit from the spine-section and the sheets dropped on said section are thrown by the rolls 31against the face of said stile, by which they are arrested and justified. The shaft 101, carrying the stile, is rotated continuously by a spur-gear140 on the shaft 98 and meshes with a pinion 141, mounted on a stud earried by the arm 100. The pinion 141 carries a smaller pinion 142, meshing with a gear 143 on the shaft 101, the parts being so timed that the opening or openings 42 in the stile are brought opposite the end of the inserter-section 33 of the spine and in position to permit the action of the delivery-rolls 15 36 as often as a complete signature is formed upon said section.

As the signature is shot from the insertersection 33 and is directed laterally by the deliector-plate 44, it is stopped by the plate 43 and falls over upon the belt-carrier 45, as already described, its movement and position being positively determined by knocker-arms 144, carried by the shaft 4101. Between each delivery this belt-carrier is advanced a few inches, in order that the successive signatures may lie separately thereon and partly overlying each other, as shown in Fig. 1. The belt 45 is carried by drums 145 and 146, Fig. 8, and the intermittent advance of said belt- IOO is effected by the following means: The shaft of the drum 145 is extended, Fig. 5, toward the pres's end of the machine and receives a bearing in a drop-bracket 147 on the bedplate. Upon the shaft is loosely mounted a pawl-carrying arm 148, having a pawl 149 pivoted thereon, and thrown by a spring-actuated push-pin 150 into engagement with a ratchet 151, rigidly mounted on the shaft of the drinn. To the upper end of the pawlcarrier 148 is pivotally connected a pitman 152, reciproeated byv an arm 153, rigidly mounted on a sleeve 154, slipped upon the shaft 124, Figs. 4 and 4, Upon this sleeve is clamped, Figs. 4 and 9, a cam-arm 155, having at its end a friction-roll with which afacecam 156 on a gear of the press engages at proper intervals, partially rotating the sleeve upon the shaft 124 and swinging the pawlcarrier 148 in such manner as to turn the drum 145 and advance the belt-carrier a distance proportioned to the throw of 'the facecam 156. The restoration of the parts to their normal position is effected by a spring 157, connecting the pawl-carrier 148 to a post depending from the bed-plate. It will be seen IIO ISO

/ipm

that the cams which operate the rocleshaft 124 and the sleeve 154 are so timed, respectively, that they act consecutively, the former operating the movable deliveryeroll 36 and effecting the removal of the signature before the latter advances the belt-carrier in readiness for the succeeding delivery.

The shafts carrying the drums 145 and 146 are connected by rods 158, mounted at one enden the shaft of the drinn 145 and at the other end entering socket-pieces159, mounted on the shaft of drum 146. A set-screw 160 is tapped into the end of each socket-piece 159 and bears against the end of the rod 158, whereby the tension of the belt may be adjusted.v

The tightening-bars are supported by arms 161,clamped on the rod and upon a cross-arm 162, supported by a post 163.V This post supports the drum 146 and part of the weight o'f the tightening devices. The outer end ofthe drinn 145 is supported by a bracket-bearing 164. The post 163 is placed centrally, and the cross-arm 162 extends upon each side thereof equally, and at each end receives one of the supports 161, the tightening-bar and socketpiece being duplicated upon the opposite ends of the drums. As the printed web is taken from the press, it is drawn over the gradually ascending back of the web-former, the inclination of which relatively to the horizontal back of the spine, which is on a level with the highest part of the web-former, causes the web to closely hug the latter and conform to its shape. By these means the paper is caused to gradually assume the required form and is brought to a central longitudinal fold without the slightest wrinkling or creasing. The compressor-plates 15 being arranged at the point where the web leaves the angular back 6 of the webformer 5, a sharp 'and perfectly-defined crease or fold is formed at this point, no opportunity being given for the lateral displacement of the line of fold. The fold is then perfected by the feeding or drawing and creasin-g rolls 16, and the printed web is advanced with great rapidity, perforated, separated, the sheets inserted, and the signatures delivered as fast as the web can be delivered by the press.

As thus far set forth we have shown and described a construction of stile and an arrangement of cams for operating the delivery-rolls 35 and 36 adapted` for the insertion o'l signatures each consisting of four' folded sheets, containing sixteen pages of printed matter. lVith the form of perfecting-press referred to in this specification a single revolution of the impression-cylinder produces eight sheets, containing thirtytwo printed pages, and as the stile 34 is timed to revolve once to each revolution of the said cylinder we 'form two openings 42 therein, as shown, upon opposite sides of the shaft carrying the stile, and provide a similar arrangement of the cams, which throw the delivery' advancing the belt-carrier. This arrangement is substantially indicated in the diagram view Fig. 17, in' which, however, the cams operating the belt 45 are not shown. By simply removing one of the cams 133 and using a stile having a single opening 42, as indicated in Fig. 14, we may produce signatures of eight folded sheets each, and in like manner we may adopt such relative number and arrangement of cams as to vary the number of sheets in each signature as circumstances may require, as indicated in the diagram views in Figs. 1,4 to 17, inclusive.

By forming and folding the web as it comes from the press the sheets composing a signa tu re have each a well-defined perfectly-formed fold, avoiding the necessity of using a bookrolling machine and producing signatures which are more compact and of better form, with the sheets more perfectly aligned, and witlrbetter registering than is practicable when the sheets are all folded in a bunch.

lVhat we claim is- 1. The combination,with a perfecting-press, of a web-forming shell upon which the perfected web is received and over which it is drawn as it comes from the press, said shell comprising a lat receivingesurface passing gradually into a convex surface and terminating in an angular end to form a central bend in theinovin g web, and an upright frame supporting the shell and having an angular opening into which the angular end of the shell extends and arranged to provide a space between it and the edge of the angular opening for the passage of the web, substantially as described.

2. The combination,with a perfecting-press, of a web-former consisting of a shell or body having a surface which passes by regular graduations from Iiat to convex and thence to an angular form, a frame surrounding the angular portiombut leaving space for the passage of the web between the frame and former, and elastic compressors mounted upon said frame directly in front of the angular back of the for1ner,between which the central portion of the web passes as the latter leaves the web-former, substantially as described.

3. The combination,with a perfecting-press, of a web-former having a surface passing from flat to angular by successive graduations, a frame surrounding the angular extremity of said web former, between which and said frame the continuous web passes, elastic compressors mounted on said frame in line with the angular back of the web-former, a spine or support for the folded web in front of the webfornier, and Vmeans for drawing t-he web over the latter and advancing it over said spine, substantially as described.

4. The combinatiomwith a perfecting-press, of a web-former havin g a surface passing by successive graduations from flat to angular, a frame surrounding and having an inner surface parallel with the angular extremity of the web-former, elastic compressors arranged IOO IIO

in front of the angular extremity of the former, a spine or support upon which the folded web is received as it leaves the compressors, continuously-revolving drawing-rolls advancing the folded web upon the spine and havinga su rface speed greater than the speed of the web, perforators operating upon the web at stated intervals, and separating-rolls traveling at a higher surface speed than the perforators and separating the web along the lines of perforation, said perforators and separators being arranged at intervals along the spine and acting upon the web as it is supported and advanced thereon, substantially as described.

5. Thecombination,with a perfecting-press, of aweb-former havin g a surface which passes from iiat to angular by imperceptible graduations, a frame surrounding the angular portion of said web-former, elastic compressors carried by said frame, and between which the crease or fold in the web is formed, drawing or feeding rolls which advance the web and also perfect the fold therein, a pair of perforators acting on the web at intervals and gripping `the same during a partial revolution, a pair of separators running at a surface speed somewhat in excess of the pcrforators, and a pair of advancing-rolls by which the separate sheets are thrown upon an inserter-section of a spine upon which the folded web is supported during its movement, substantially as described.

G. The combination,with a perfecting-press, of a web-former, elastic compressors acting upon the web as it comes from the former, a spine or support upon which the folded web is received as it comes from the compressors,

means for successively perforating and separating the web and accelerating the advance of the separated sheets, an inserting-section of the spine upon which the sheets are thrown successively, a stile or gate preventing exit from the inserting-section save at stated intervals, intermittently-operating delivery-rolls which withdraw the signature from the inserting-section, and a belt-carrier receiving the signatures, substantially as described.

7. The combination,with a perfecting-press, of the web-form er, the elastic compressors, the drawing and folding rolls,theperforators, one of which has a section of increased diameter, the separators traveling at a higher surface speed than the perforators and gripping the web during a part of each revolution, a pair of rubber accelerating-rolls having a portion of the peripheral surface removed from each, a spine or support for the folded web, along' which the severalparts are arranged at lintervals, said spine having an inserting-section arranged below the level of the preceding portion, a pair of cone-adjusters revolving one upon each side of said section, and an elastic striker or finger revolving above and in the vertical plane of the inserting-section, substantially as described.

S. The combination,with a perfecting-press, of a web-former, a spine connected to a suitable support adjacent thereto, upon which spine the folded web is carried, and feed-rolls arranged on opposite sides of the spine and engaging the folded edge of the web at a point where the edge of the spine is cut away to permit the rolls to meet, substantially as described.

9. The combination,with a perfecting-press, of a web-former, a spine connected to a suitable support adjacent to said former, and rolls drawing and advancin g the fold ed web thereon during its perforation and separation, said spine being provided with an inserting-section and having spreaders immediatelv preceding-said section to open the-folded sheets, substantially as described.

lO. The combination, with a perfectingpress, of a web-former, a spine receiving the web therefrom, compressors forming the fold therein as the web comes from the former, perforators, feed-rolls, and separators, the latter traveling at increased speed, acting upon the web successively as it is advanced on the spine, a pair of accelerating-rolls throwing the separate sheets, which are opened by spreaders upon the spine, upon an insertingsection and against a stile having one or more exit-openings, a pair of delivery-rolls, one of which is movable toward and from the other, and means for revolving the stile and throwing the delivery-rolls into engagement as the exit-opening in the stile comes opposite the inserting-section, substantially as described.

ll. The combination, with a perfectingpress and with a web-former, of a spine upon which the folded web is received and advanced, drawing and creasing rolls acting upon and perfecting the fold of the web, perforators, one of which is adjustable and has asection of increased diameter extending over an arc on the perforator, rubber feedrolls advancing the web upon the spine, separators traveling at an increased speed, one of which is adjustable at top and bottom independently, accelerating-rolls having portions of their peripheries removed, a pair of delivery-rolls, one of which is movable toward and from the other, a revolving stile having an exit-opening, a carrier-belt, and means for throwing' the delivery-rolls together and giving alternately an advance movement to the delivery belt, substantially as described.

12. The combination, with the insertingsection of the spine and with the int-ermittently-operating delivery-rolls, of the deflector-platc arranged in front of the insertingsection, the carrier-belt moving beneath, and knocker-arms revolving above the deiiectorplate, substantially as described.

13. The combination, with a perfectingpress and with a spine or similar support, of a web-former, devices for drawing and feeding, perforating, advancing, and separating the folded web while supported on the spine, accelerating-rolls throwing the sheets on an TOO IIO

inserting-section of the spine, delivery-rolls acting` at intervals on the signature, a stile having one or more openings for the removal of the signature, a carrier-belt having a crank operating the movable delivery-roll, a sleeve on said shaft having an arm advancing the belt-carrier, and a press-gear having cams actuating the shaft and sleeve successively, substantiall5- as described.

14. The stile or gate herein shown and described, the same consisting of a metallic disk having one or more exit-openings formed in the edge, in combination with the insertingsection of the spine, substantially as described.

15. The` combination, with a perfecting- 

